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Parliamentary Select Committee Names Volta Region Cleanest in Ghana Amid Infrastructure Challenges
•2 min read•2 sources
The Parliamentary Select Committee on Water and Sanitation has officially recognized the Volta Region as the cleanest region visited during its ongoing nationwide monitoring of waste management facilities. Led by Chairman John Oti Bless, the committee praised regional stakeholders for their relative success in maintaining sanitation standards, especially when compared to the severe challenges observed in other parts of the country. This commendation came during a high-level inspection tour of the Ho Integrated Recycling and Compost Plant (IRECOP), where lawmakers assessed the region's capacity for processing urban waste into reusable materials.
Despite this accolade, the region continues to grapple with significant logistical and structural barriers that limit its total waste management efficiency. The Volta Region generates approximately 268,000 tonnes of solid waste annually; however, only 60 percent of this volume is currently being collected, and a mere 2 percent is successfully recycled. These figures underscore a gap between the region’s public cleanliness and its industrial resource recovery capabilities. Officials identified poor road infrastructure and a lack of engineered landfill sites as the primary factors preventing waste management services from reaching their full potential.
The Ho Integrated Recycling and Compost Plant (IRECOP) serves as a critical hub for the region's sanitation strategy, currently capturing 65 percent of the local waste stream. However, this performance remains below the facility’s 85 percent operational target. During the visit, stakeholders highlighted that the absence of strategically located transfer stations forces waste collection vehicles to travel long distances over deteriorating roads, increasing costs and reducing collection frequency. To bridge this gap, the committee emphasized the urgent need for public education campaigns focused on waste separation at the source, which would streamline the recycling process and reduce the burden on existing facilities.
Looking toward future improvements, the Parliamentary Select Committee expressed strong support for the proposed National Sanitation Authority Bill. Lawmakers believe this legislation will provide the necessary regulatory framework and funding to enhance sanitation management across all 16 regions of Ghana. For the Volta Region to maintain its status as a leader in cleanliness, the committee concluded that the government must prioritize investments in road access to waste sites and the development of modern landfill infrastructure. These steps are deemed essential for transitioning from basic waste collection to a fully integrated and sustainable circular economy.
